Kitchen Counters

Kitchen Counters

Functionality in the kitchen

The level of userfriendlyness in a kitchen is greatly determined by it's positioning of kitchen counters, layout and appliances. It makes life allot easier if the working area is spacious and easily accessible. If you have a very small kitchen with litttle worktop space you can always add a mobile island than you can move around as you need it.

There is a wide variety of countertops made up of deferent kinds of materials. Since they are all exposed to deferent acids and detergents it's important to know how these these materials react to these substances.

Marble kitchen counters

Marble is a porous material and is very sensitive to chemical cleaning detergents and acids and requires constant maintenance.

Wood kitchen counters

I'm a huge fan of wooden kitchen counters beaus they wear so well with age...if you take care of it. Your harder wood types is tropical woods. They have a more compact structure and is reasonably water repellent. Solid wood types have to be treated with special oils to ensure it remains saturated and stain resistant. I normally use Woodoc furniture oil to polish my counters. Some people say it's back for they clear varnish which is used to seal the worktops but I've had no problems or comebacks from clients. Woodoc furniture oil is in anyway oil based so it has no acids that can eat away at the varnish.

Granite and Ceasarstone kitchen counters

For those that don't know granite is the finished product of marble. The fosilising of granite works in stages. First there's clay, then marble ad then granite. That's why granite has a much more denser structure than marble. Granite and Ceasarstone kitchen counters are ideally suited for hygienic working surfaces. Both materials are water and acid repellent and are also very difficult to scratch. They are also heat resistant so when you place a hot pot on the surface it wont leave a ugly burn ring.

Synthetic materials and Stainless steel kitchen counters

These materials have a dense structure, are non porous and as a result perfect for making a hygienic countertop. Synthetic tops have a chip and scratch proof top layer but are as heat resistant as stainless steel. Stainless steel on the other hand is not as scratch resistant as synthetic materials but can withstand allot of heat.

Ceramic tiles for kitchen counters

Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and also durable. Becuase they arent expensive it makes it a really good choice for countertops for the average home. Ceramic tiles are installed in sections and can be done by most resourceful homeowners.
Pros: takes hot pans; easy to clean; wide range of price, color, texture and design.
Cons: counter surface is uneven; tiles can easily chip or crack; grout lines become stained; custom-designed tiles are very expensive.